The Natural History of New England [E]

An introduction to the rich geologic history and the diverse natural flora and fauna of the region. New England possesses a great assortment of landforms and ecological systems in a relatively small geographic area. The geologic past included volcanoes, lava flows, collisions and divergences of continental plates, and most recently retreating glaciers. This newly renovated landscape made way for a succession of varied forest types and other ecosystems as the flora and fauna adapted to this newly warming and geologically overhauled environment. Geologic history of the New England, natural and human disturbance, forest succession, and the resulting shifting mosaic of the biotic community will be discussed. Field experiences require some walking over uneven terrain.